The Man

Slinx is someone you would not remember.

Slinx is normal, too normal. With short black straight hair and an almond face, his description fits too many people, and it would probably still be impossible to find him in a crowd even if you had met him.

Slinx had once hoped that underneath his ordinary flesh lay something extraordinary: A mysterious and destined purpose that he must pursue, an inspiring tale he would tell to the many that would come to admire him, a legendary feat he would achieve to redefine the standards.

"Anything would do, just one sign that I was born unique." thought Slinx.

Slinx would pray every night before going to bed, yet never had he got an answer.

For every gift he had there was always a more talented person , and for every record he made there was always someone to make it history. Slinx is too normal for one to remember, too normal to be anything.

The smooth brick pavement showed a lack of empathy for Slinx, continuously tripping him as if mocking his ability to walk.

"That's it!"

Slinx could no longer bear the frustration, he dashed across the road to get to the other side, it was not his usual routine.

"But I'm special, I walk the way I want!" A boisterous thought fueled by Slinx's need for recognition. A thought that led him towards the murky narrow alley on the other side.

The alley was unusually dark even during daytime, no light shed on the path filled with strong malodorous odor. The possible source of the nasty scent being the leaking vomit slowly dripping down the trash containers that no one dared touch. Ignoring these horrendous features, Slinx took a deep breath and stepped foot into the alley.

"Ow!" The sudden scream caught Slinx off guard. He immediately scanned across the alley sensing he was not the only person there, but there was seemingly no one around him.

"Watch where you're going kiddo!" a mysterious voice barked.

A shadowy figure popped in front of him, causing Slinx to squeal in response and cover his face with his palms.

"I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry! Don't hurt me! Don't hurt me! DON'T HURT ME PLEASE!" Slinx begged for mercy as attempted to run, but his wobbly legs were not responding.

"You!" The figure barked.

Or did it?

The voice was echoing in Slinx's mind, it was as if an unconscious part of his mind had just awoken.

The figure pointed at Slinx as it slowly approached him. Slinx heard himself screaming with a pitch so high he never knew he could reach, his lower half was still paralyzed as he felt his body trembling. He found himself collapsing to the floor staring cowardly at the towering figure he faced.

"Is this the end for me?" Slinx thought in despair.

But then, the figure stopped, just inches in front of him. The figure revealed its form of a pale old man, nothing under his 60s and standing at no more than five feet.

The old man's lips remained shut, yet his voice was embedded into Slinx's mind as Slinx stared into the old man's eyes. " Many many years ago, back before humans held swords or shields, before cities were built and castles were made, lived the Tavats - a tribe that held wisdom and technology beyond the reach of mankind."

" The Tavats knew under the limits of reality, it was simply impossible for all our deepest cravings to be achieved. No two men could share the glory of being the best, no two kings could share a throne, not everyone could be the best." The old man whisked his long hairy beard as he examined the frozen Slinx like a statue.

"So they made their own reality, a place where their deepest cravings could be achieved. A place where peace and happiness was not bound to the constructs of life, but the limit of their own imagination."

The old man then proceeded to dig into the pockets of his poorly patched coat, revealing a shiny-silver ring. Slinx found himself holding out his hand uncontrollably, the old man lent out his hand and dropped the ring into Slinx's palm. And magically, the action triggered Slinx's nerves again allowing him to finally control his limbs again.

"Get away from me you creep !" Slinx managed to snatch his bag back and dashed out of the alley. He could hear the old man still shouting in the distance, "Put the ring on when you sleep!". The voice was quick to vanish, but the words continued to echo in Slinx's head.